Zero-to-One Product Design: Bicycle Hire for Travelers Exploring a Destination

Design an app that lets tourists rent bicycles. Decide what the product should achieve, choose which travelers to serve first, work out what they need across the rental, prioritize a first release, and explain how you would measure success. ```hint Follow one rental Walk one traveler through a whole rental, from planning before the trip to handing the bike back, and note where being a visitor makes each step harder than it would be for a local. ``` ### Clarifying Questions - Does the company own and operate the bikes, or is the app a marketplace that lists existing rental shops or bike-share fleets? - Is the first launch one city or region, and are e-bikes included alongside standard bicycles? - Is the main goal adoption, the number of rentals, or revenue per rental? - Are we serving international visitors, domestic travelers, or both? ### What a Strong Answer Covers - A stated product goal and business model, with the assumptions that shape the design - Traveler segments compared on stated criteria, with one chosen and the reason for the choice - The chosen segment's rental journey and pain points, including those that come from being away from home - Features prioritized into a first release using explicit criteria, with rider safety handled deliberately - A primary metric with guardrails, and the main operational and safety risks ### Follow-up Questions - How would travelers find the app, given that many only think of renting a bike after they arrive? - What would you change if bikes kept coming back late or damaged? - How would your design change for a destination outside a city, such as a coastal route or a wine region?